(Best E Casino) - Pegged to finish last in the AL West even before catchers and pitchers reported to Spring Training, the Oakland Athletics have stuck it to their naysayers so far with a healthy mix of pitching and clutch hitting.

The Athletics lead the majors with a 3.29 earned run average and are hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position -- two achievements any manager would be satisfied with. Oakland has won five of seven games and put the breaks on a brief two-game skid with a victory over Texas in the finale of a three-game weekend series. Thanks to Sunday's convincing 12-6 pounding of the Rangers in Arlington, the A's are all alone atop the AL West at a half game ahead of the LA Angels of Anaheim.

Oakland (23-16) is also ranked within the top 10 in the majors in runs scored (187), RBI (487) and on-base percentage (.340). Much of the success at the plate can be attributed to journeyman Emil Brown, who leads the ballclub in batting average (.283), runs batted in (33) and runs scored (22). Brown is sporting a .311 batting average with 14 hits in 45 at-bats over his last 10 contests.

Brown also has five multi-hit games during that span. He hasn't struck out in a game since May 2 versus the Texas Rangers at McAfee Coliseum.

Oakland's starters have done just enough to keep the team above the .500 mark, and got Rich Harden back after a stint on the disabled list. Harden was placed on the DL in mid-April with a strained right shoulder, marking his sixth trip to the disabled list over the previous four years. Harden, who made two rehab starts at the minor league level, returned to action on Sunday against Texas, yielding five runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings for the no decision.

Harden is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA in three starts this season. Meanwhile, Justin Duchscherer is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts this season, and has won two straight starts. Dana Eveland sports a 3-3 mark and a 3.23 earned run average in eight starts, while Greg Smith has been solid with a 2-2 ledger and a 3.00 ERA after seven trips to the mound. Chad Gaudin is 3-2 in seven games (six starts) with a 3.55 earned run average, though Joe Blanton has seen better days. Blanton is only 2-5 in nine starts with a 3.82 ERA, the highest among the regular starters.

CHAVEZ EXPECTED TO START REHAB ASSIGNMENT

Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez is expected to make a rehab assignment, most likely at Triple-A Sacramento.

Chavez, who is on the 60-day DL after offseason back surgery, fielded ground balls on Saturday to get his body back into playing shape. He is eligible to come off of the disabled list later this month, but manager Bob Geren is not anticipating a return that soon.

The Los Angeles native played in 90 games last year and batted .240 with 15 homers and 46 RBI. During the seven years prior to last season, Chavez averaged more than 20 homers a year with no less than 125 games played.

WHO'S HOT

Designated hitter/left fielder Jack Cust, who had a team-high 26 home runs and 82 RBI in 2007, is batting .415 with three homers, six runs batted in and four multi-hit games over his last 13 contests.

WHO'S NOT

Oakland shortstop Bobby Crosby is sporting just a .183 batting average with just six RBI in his previous 19 games after hitting .313 with 15 runs batted in through his first 20 contests.

ON DECK

The A's are 1-2 on a nine-game road trip against the Rangers, Indians and Braves, and own an 11-7 mark as the guest in 2008.

They will kick off a three-game series with Cleveland from Progressive Field on Tuesday, before visiting the Braves for three more contests at Turner Field on May 16-18.